Bright New World: How to Make a Happy Planet

Gr 3-6–Have you ever wondered about the future of our planet? This book posits ideas on how to make our world more sustainable for the future. It explores every topic, from greenhouse gases to clean fuels to the rainforests, among others. Conservation heroes are featured throughout and include people who have started green companies or famous conservationists and feminists, such as Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, and Sir David Attenborough. There are also bubbles on some pages that prompt children to think about what they can do to help the planet. Each section also features quotes by kids from the future about how life on Earth is “now” and how it compares with the “past.” The illustrations are beautiful and feature futuristic scenes with animals, compelling architecture, and an inclusive sampling of people of diverse cultures from all around the world. The writing can be clunky and inconsistent. British spellings and measurements are mostly used, but sometimes an American spelling or measurement is implemented instead. Also included are an index and a section on how to make the future greener. However, there is no bibliography or resource.